Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38855 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38855 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Maybe it’s the wrong choice, but I nod and mouth the words to Beverly as I sit down: It’s okay.
I stare across at my stepfather, and all I feel is loathing.
“You want to talk. Talk. Then I’ve got some things to say myself.”
He huffs out a breath through his nose, shaking his head. “You and I never did see eye to eye, did we?” He waits, but all I offer is a shrug. “Honestly, I wish things had been different between us. Maybe all this unpleasantness between us could have been avoided. And I admit, I have to shoulder part of the blame for that—”
“Part of the blame?” I explode, feeling the bile rise up in my throat. “I was a kid. A pretty good kid. You were—”
“Yes, part of the blame, Astrid. You always saw me as the villain, and it takes two to tango.” He waves a hand between us. “Anyway, I didn’t come here to argue. I came to put our differences aside—” I start to interrupt, but he holds up a finger to silence me. “For your mother’s sake.”
I narrow my eyes, but he knows she’s my weakness. “What does Mom have to do with this, Robert?”
“Everything. She has everything to do with this. I loved her. Whatever you think of me, that much is true, you have to believe that at least.”
I stare in silence for a long moment, the monster trucks roaring on the TV as I wonder where this is going. But the longer I look at him, the more I start to think about how things were.
They say nostalgia is a slick liar but perhaps, in his own way, he did love her. And perhaps he’s hurting too. Eventually, I nod, take a breath, and the lines on his face seem to smooth in relief.
“Thank you. I know you loved her too.” He replies, his expression steady, and I struggle to keep an open mind.
“Is that all you wanted? To make sure I know you loved Mom? Okay, fine, you loved her. But us? Me and you? We are never going to have any sort of relationship. You ruined that the day I left.”
He nods. “I understand. That’s something I’m going to have to live with. But that’s not the only reason I’m here. Your mother left you something. A gift. I found it the day after you disappeared. To tell you the truth, it’s that gift that made me realize I had to see you and make amends.”
My heart clutches. “What is it?” I can’t believe there was a gift for me from my mom and I didn’t know about it. What could it be that she wanted me to have? And something that would make him believe he had to see me? It must be something special.
“It’s in my car. Astrid, it’s better if you see it for yourself. For me to describe it to you wouldn’t... It’s just better if you come with me.”
“Why didn’t you bring it in with you? What is it?”
“Well, I wasn’t even sure I would find you in here and if I did, I don’t think it’s something you’ll want to receive with all these people around. It’s personal. Come with me, just to the car. You don’t have to get in or go anywhere, I’ll just get it for you, and you can do what you like after that.”
I watch him, looking at his eyes, and all I see is an old man who’s made a mess of things. Sure, he’s made my life a misery. But if this gift from my mom has made him rethink those things, I guess it’s the last thing she’s able to do for me.
Nodding, I push my chair back. “Fine, okay, let’s go.”
OUTSIDE, I SEE HE’S parked over in the corner of the back parking lot. Apart from a beat-up old black van that looks like it might have come off the set of The A Team back in the 80s, there are no other cars nearby.
I follow him, but as we get close, I hang back.
“Come on, Astrid, what am I going to do? We’re in public in broad daylight...”
“I have no idea, but I don’t trust you.”
He stops and turns, and the look in his eyes could be anything. Anger, frustration, hurt. I don’t care.
Robert releases an exasperated sound, but turns and continues to the car, and I wander a little closer, but stop by the van.
“This is as close as I’m going to get. You can bring whatever it is to me.”
If he tries anything, I’m ready to run. I can be around the other side of this van before he gets to me, and then I’ll scream my head off as I run back to the bar. Enough screaming I’m sure he’ll tuck tail and move on out of town.